CHAPTER XXXII

ethattheinmateshaveplentyofspaceforwithdrawingoutofitsinfluenceandaccordinglywhatinmatestherewerehadstationedthemselvesnotfarfromoneofthewindows.IcouldbothseethemandhearthemtalkbeforeIentered,andlookedandlistenedinconsequencebeingmovedtheretobyamingledsenseofcuriosityandenvy,thatgrewasIlingered. “Con-trary!”saidavoiceassweetasasilverbell.“Thatforthethirdtime,youdunce!I’mnotgoingtotellyouagain.Recollect,orI’llpullyourhair!” “Contrary,then,”answeredanother,indeepbutsoftenedtones.“Andnow,kissme,formindingsowell.” “No,readitoverfirstcorrectly,withoutasinglemistake.” Themalespeakerbegantoread:hewasayoungman,respectablydressedandseatedatatable,havingabookbeforehim.Hishandsomefeaturesglowedwithpleasure,andhiseyeskeptimpatientlywanderingfromthepagetoasmallwhitehandoverhisshoulder,whichrecalledhimbyasmartslaponthecheek,wheneveritsownerdetectedsuchsignsofinattention.Itsownerstoodbehindherlight,shiningringletsblending,atintervals,withhisbrownlocks,asshebenttosuperintendhisstudiesandherface—itwasluckyhecouldnotseeherface,orhewouldneverhavebeensosteady.IcouldandIbitmylipinspite,athavingthrownawaythechanceImighthavehadofdoingsomethingbesidesstaringatitssmitingbeauty. Thetaskwasdone,notfreefromfurtherblundersbutthepupilclaimedareward,andreceivedatleastfivekisseswhich,however,hegenerouslyreturned.Thentheycametothedoor,andfromtheirconversationIjudgedtheywereabouttoissueoutandhaveawalkonthemoors.IsupposedIshouldbecondemnedinHaretonEarnshaw’sheart,ifnotbyhismouth,tothelowestpitintheinfernalregionsifIshowedmyunfortunatepersoninhisneighbourhoodthenandfeelingverymeanandmalignant,Iskulkedroundtoseekrefugeinthekitchen.TherewasunobstructedadmittanceonthatsidealsoandatthedoorsatmyoldfriendNellyDean,sewingandsingingasongwhichwasofteninterruptedfromwithinbyharshwordsofscornandintolerance,utteredinfarfrommusicalaccents. “I’drayther,byth’haulf,hev’’emswearingi’mylugsfro’hmorntoneeght,norhearkenyehahsiver!”saidthetenantofthekitchen,inanswertoanunheardspeechofNelly’s.“It’sablazingshame,thatIcannotoppent’blessedBook,butyahsetupthemgloriestosattan,andallt’flaysomewickednessesthativerwerebornintoth’warld!Oh!ye’rearaightnowtandshoo’sanotherandthatpoorlad’llbelostatweenye.Poorlad!”headded,withagroan“he’switched:I’msartinon’t.Oh,Lord,judge’em,forthere’snortherlawnorjusticeamongwerrullers!” “No!orweshouldbesittinginflamingfagots,Isuppose,”retortedthesinger.“Butwisht,oldman,andreadyourBiblelikeaChristian,andnevermindme.Thisis‘FairyAnnie’sWedding’—abonnytune—itgoestoadance.” Mrs.Deanwasabouttorecommence,whenIadvancedandrecognisingmedirectly,shejumpedtoherfeet,crying—“Why,blessyou,Mr.Lockwood!Howcouldyouthinkofreturninginthisway?All’sshutupatThrushcrossGrange.Youshouldhavegivenusnotice!” “I’vearrangedtobeaccommodatedthere,foraslongasIshallstay,”Ianswered.“Idepartagainto-morrow.Andhowareyoutransplantedhere,Mrs.Dean?tellmethat.” “Zillahleft,andMr.Heathcliffwishedmetocome,soonafteryouwenttoLondon,andstaytillyoureturned.But,stepin,pray!HaveyouwalkedfromGimmertonthisevening?” “FromtheGrange,”Ireplied“andwhiletheymakemelodgingroomthere,IwanttofinishmybusinesswithyourmasterbecauseIdon’tthinkofhavinganotheropportunityinahurry.” “Whatbusiness,sir?”saidNelly,conductingmeintothehouse.“He’sgoneoutatpresent,andwon’treturnsoon.” “Abouttherent,”Ianswered. “Oh!thenitiswithMrs.Heathcliffyoumustsettle,”sheobserved“orratherwithme.Shehasnotlearnttomanageheraffairsyet,andIactforher:there’snobodyelse.” Ilookedsurprised. “Ah!youhavenotheardofHeathcliff’sdeath,Isee,”shecontinued. “Heathcliffdead!”Iexclaimed,astonished.“Howlongago?” “Threemonthssince:butsitdown,andletmetakeyourhat,andI’lltellyouallaboutit.Stop,youhavehadnothingtoeat,haveyou?” “Iwantnothing:Ihaveorderedsupperathome.Yousitdowntoo.In